The class divide

Volunteers of the Commonwealth Games have their own hip postings.

The Commonwealth Games’ volunteers are the cynosure of all in the Capital and possibly the most ‘hip’ brigade this season, next only to the Commonwealth Games athletes. Every young Delhiite will be more than willing to trade anything to avail the perks that accompany the duties of these volunteers.

But there is a catch here. Apart from the swish set of CWG gears, which every volunteer received, not all of them are equally elated about their postings. There is a big divide between the ‘hip’ and ‘not so hip’ places, which have been entrusted to them.

“I think, mine will be the least visited section by people,” says Princee, a volunteer at the Lan Bowling event at JN Sports Complex. “I have seen the players; they are quite old.” She rues the fact that she won’t get to see young athletes.

There are some, who are part of the whole razzmatazz, but hardly with a chance to watch any on-field action. “I have to be at the Lalit hotel, assisting the foreign media,” says Shamita Shukla, a paid volunteer, who envies her friends posted at “better places”.

And those who are really at the “better places”, can’t stop grinning. On duty at the RK Khanna Tennis Complex, Mohit Nath can’t believe his good luck.

“So what if this is a one-sport venue? It can’t be better than this,” he says, excited to have icons like Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza, Somdev Devburman — apart from the international players — all under one roof.

Saahil Kathuria, on duty in the security section and with access to all the Games’ sites, is also elated. “I can catch up on any sport, wherever I want. That too, from real close,” he says.